Well it finally happened, we finally got the snow storm of Instagram dreams. It’s time to settle in to a cozy spot with your reading devices of preference and enjoy a cup of tea. Here are today’s Lust Local picks:

Shoes you can stand in all day || I am on my feet all day long, and to be honest having the right pair of shoes is key. Well + Good put together the best shoes to wear when standing all day, with the advice of a foot doc.

The Goods Mart || I wish more health marts like The Goods Mart existed all over the country. If you’re in DC however, The Tavern, Moms, and Yes Organic are great places to pick up healthy staples. For now, read about how the The Goods Mart came to be… I’m such a cheerleader for something that’s not only good, but does good.

The BEST Leggings ever || I’m currently living in the Align Leggings… I have them in 4 different pairs. The black pair are perfect to dress up or down. (To be fully transparent, the link is an affiliate link)

Lust Local Rec || I recently started running over to Grateful Kitchen Co after Solidcore, or when I need one of their smoothies or salads to pick me up! Try their Cilantro salad, the Honey Tahini Dressing is TDF.

Home Studio Goals || My home studio right now is just sad, but it gets the job done. This home studio featured on Honestly WTF is everything I could ever want.

Happy Indigenous People’s Day…JK that was in October, but shouldn’t we celebrate that like this too? Ok Ok, all joking aside I love this holiday. Why? Family. Plain and simple. I’m grateful to all of you who read my post, and those of you who follow me on all media, and those of you who will go out of their way to say hi, or to tell me that they enjoy something I do. THANK YOU!

Five Companies that do not participate in Black Friday || I LOVE and support all of these brands, I love their messaging and what they do for the world day in and day out. However I’ll have a couple of noteworthy “deals” in this email if you must shop before tomorrow. Also….isn’t it so cool that REI legit just shuts down on Black Friday?

Learning Self Care after Surgery || My Instagram pal Nikki Rappaport shares her experience in learning about self-care after a life changing surgery. I love her candor in this piece over at Girls Night In. It also inspired me to head over to Planned Parenthood for a check up recently

Helping My Fair-Skinned Son Embrace His Blackness || This article was very moving to me, identity in America is something that is not talked about enough. Traditionally, for latinos, it’s about assimilation to American culture…while holding on to our traditions. To understand this mother and her sons struggle to assert his African American heritage is an insight in understanding each other.

Zuckerberg, is fixing Facebook and getting tough || Alright so this article isn’t breaking news, I mean we all saw ‘The Social Network.’ Right? We all know that MZ is a control freak, we know this through the constant updates to all the platforms he touches… mostly because we don’t like it when the algorithms change, or the visual gets weird, i.e. Facebook businesses pages. But, it looks like Mark is putting on his big CEO pants and committing to improving the media giant.

Michelle Obama and Oprah || Can they be the presidential ticket in 2020? JK… they’re busy saving the world. However, if you’re driving to a far away place today or to a mall at 8 PM, this Super Soul Podcast is one you have to listen to, not only is Oprah amazing — but Michelle Obama is the read deal SUPER WOMAN.

Romaine Calm || Speaking of Salads, don’t eat the romaine right now…. it’s a little scary to think that the same strain of E-Coli is still out on the loose and affecting the greens. If you must though…head to your most local market and make sure you’re picking it from a very close radius. (Within 200 miles at max)

Instagram is cracking down on fake likes and follows || There are so many people that boost their accounts with fake likes or fake followers. These accounts then also pitch themselves to larger companies for paid promotions etc. As a social media manger I always look at the accounts that request to work with my brands. And if you’re looking, not even closely enough, you can always tell when someone is padding their engagement, and their following.

SALES SALES SALES || These two brands I love are having a sale, Blundstone the makers of the coziest hiking boots is offering 15% off. Christy Dawn, the LA based brand bringing ACTUAL sustainable, American made fashion to the hands of gals all over the country is holding a 30% sale. I have to say… I love shopping from Christy Dawn when I can. Not only are the dresses stunning, but I also know who is making the dress, where the fabric is from, and that I’m supporting LOCAL.

I was talking to friends over wine earlier this week about traveling alone, about going out alone, about living your life essentially on your own. I recalled a @mindykaling passage I had read in NY mag long ago. In the article Mindy talked about asking her mother, who was close to passing away at the time, for advice on life. Mindy told her she would be lonely without her, and her mother responded with advice that has stuck with me since... nearly 10 years later. Dr. Chokalingam told her daughter: “You have to be your own best friend. If you always remember that, you will always have someone there with you.”

This advice has become poignant in my life. I think about it every time I think I might be alone, when I travel alone, when I experience anything without anyone there. This thought, you are never alone when you have yourself is universal. I want more people to know that. ♥️ -diana